Horses

Family holidays in French gites with horses

In the Picardy region, horses play an important role for culture and sport and this can be a really exciting aspect of summer holidays for families with children. Horses and activities involving horses provide many opportunities for activities whilst you rent French villas in the region. You might enjoy horse riding in the countryside, visiting the stables, watching a horse race or visiting the Horse Museum. Those families who are animal lovers and wouldn’t feel complete without their pet can also check out our dog-friendly cottages in our range of holiday rentals France.

France villas near Chantilly Castle

Chantilly Castle, 50 kilometres south of Beauvais, has especially magnificent stables and prized horses to offer whilst you rent French villas. Chantilly was built around 1560 and inhabited in the 19th century by the Duke of Aumale, the fourth son of the Duke of Orléans and later King Louis-Phillipe. Chantilly is famous for its park, the collection of paintings and its riding school and stud farm. Book holiday rentals France and enjoy its canals, wooden bridges and the refined rural scenery. You may also discover here the impressive collection of French art in the Museum of Condé.

Visit the Horse Museum from your France villas

In a complex located on 4000 square metres over 31 rooms a so-called ‘living horse Museum.’ The Prince de Condé believed he would be reborn as a horse and therefore invested in grand stables that now house the museum. It displays horses of different breed, saddles, bridles, and more. Visit whilst you stay at holiday rentals France, joining the 150 thousand visitors a year and take part in horse shows. Your children will be delighted if you visit the stud farm and look at the nearby racetrack during morning training of the horses.

Holiday cottages France near the Chantilly Racecourse

Located just 50 kilometres from Paris, the Chantilly Racecourse is easily reachable and makes a fantastic day out whilst you rent holiday cottages France on cheap holidays. With two main events running - the Prix du Jockey Club and Prix de Diane, there is plenty of opportunity to see the horse racing and maybe even to place a bet! There are over 2,500 horses being bred and trained here at any one time and the training grounds are a huge 1,900 hectares, so there is plenty to see and do in and around the racecourse.